Rode Videomics (Standard vs Pro vs Pro+ vs Go)

Rode’s microphones are great, especially the Videomics which are gaining popularity fast. Today we’re going to pit four iterations of the Videomic and see which one suits which purposes. Without any further ado, let’s get straight to it.

Warm-up round – The ‘original’ specs and features

The Videomic is basically the original version from this particular series, so all the other versions are based on its specs. It packs JFET electronics, a half-inch capsule and a super-cardioid pattern, which essentially means that it picks up the sound from front and sides while rejecting the sound up to 150-degrees on the backside. Its frequency range spans from 40Hz to 20 kHz and it rocks the output impedance of 200 omegas. The original Videomic weighs just 176 grams. 

Now, all other versions have a lot in common with the original specs. They all have a super-cardioid polar pattern and line gradient acoustic principle, the output impedance of 200 omegas, and the same frequency range.

The Videomic Pro has the same frequency range and output impedance as the original, as well as the capsule of the same size. It’s lighter than the original but ‘heavier’ than the VideomicGo with 85 grams of weight.

The Videomic Pro+ has a slightly bigger capsule (0.55-inch big), the same output impedance and frequency range and it weighs 122 grams. However, it’s superior in terms of battery, as it features an integrated rechargeable bat, as well as the ability to be powered via USB.

The VideoMic Go is different from the original in terms of active electronics. Apart from the JFETs, it also has a bipolar output buffer and a slightly broader frequency range (100 Hz to 16 kHz). It’s also slightly lighter, weighing only 73 grams.

Round 1 – Design

All of Videomics are designed to be exceptionally durable, but they were also meant for different purposes and uses. Each of the Videomic models packs premium quality ABS construction, though they’re different in terms of the capsule size and weight.

If you’re looking for a portable microphone, the Videomic Go is certainly the best of the four. It’s the smallest one and weighs only 73 grams. Since all of these models are basically built by the same brand and by using the same materials and technologies, the Go wins the round. It measures 79mm in height, 73mm in width, and 167mm in depth.

Round 2 – convenience/ease of use

It’s pretty obvious that Rode microphones, at least the Videomic versions, aren’t exactly beginner-level models. However, some of them are remarkably easy to use while some come outfitted with a bunch of convenience features which makes them some of the easiest microphones to use on the market.

This round goes to the Videomic Pro+. It looks almost exactly the same as the original, although it packs an upgrade in terms of auto power switching feature. This particular feature eliminates the need to switch it on and off at times, but it also does wonders for the battery lifespan.

In short, the auto power switching feature brings the Pro+ online when it’s plugged in, otherwise, it will shut itself off automatically. This might not sound as impressive, but considering that it packs 10-hour battery life, it means that you can use it for roughly twice as much simply due to the fact that it comes outfitted with this feature.

Round 3 – sensitivity

Essentially, a microphone’s sensitivity rating defines its ability to convert acoustics into sheer electric voltage. So, the higher this measure is, the less pre-amplification you need to amp the sound up onto the useable level.

It’s safe to say that the original VideoMic is pretty decent, but among the four versions, its sensitivity has the lowest rating of -38 decibels per volt. The third best version is the Videomic Go with -35 decibels per volt. The difference of some 3 Db per volt isn’t substantial, but it’s still somewhat better.

The VideoMic Pro Plus features the sensitivity rating of -33,6 decibels per volt, which is only slightly better than the Go version, and decently better than the original. As for the best one, it’s the VideoMic Pro with -32 decibels per volt.

Round 4 – Price

The last bout of performance we’re entering is the price. Rode’s microphones are generally fairly priced, and all of the Videomic variations hold a huge value for the buck. However, some of these models are quite expensive, others are even relatively cheap.

The Original Videomic doesn’t cost much, but that’s only to be expected since the brand released newer versions. The Videomic Go also belongs to the budget price point category, so if you’re low on cash, either of these options could do the trick.

The Videomic Pro is substantially more expensive than the original and the Go version, and it belongs to the lower bracket of the medium price point category. Lastly, the Pro+, obviously, costs the most. In terms of affordability, the Original Videomic and the Videomic Go are the most inexpensive models.

On another hand, in terms of value, the Pro and Pro+ variations offer better features and enhanced performance, so it might be more logical to save up some extra cash than going with the outdated variants.

Final Verdict

In truth, all Videomic variations are exceptional microphones, but since they’re clearly different when compared to one another, it’s obvious that one of them is ‘the’ best from an objective standpoint.

The original model doesn’t cost much, but has the lowest sensitivity rating, weighs the most, and features the lowest battery lifespan. The Videomic Go is the lightest one, but its sensitivity rating is still fairly low, so despite its low cost, it’s still not the best Videomic iteration. Even though the Pro+ offers quite a lot in terms of all-around performance, it’s almost twice as expensive as the Pro variant.

 Videomic Pro is pretty close to being labeled as ‘expensive’, but it packs exceptional active electronic components, the highest sensitivity rating, and a fairly light shell, so in our opinion, it’s the best version of Videomic to date.